SoFi Blog

Halloween is a sneakily expensive holiday. Because it doesn’t involve gifts, many of us may not remember to budget for it, but the fact of the matter is that between candy, costumes, and parties, establishing a Halloween budget is never a bad idea.

If you’re staring down October 31 with dread, wondering how you’re going to cover costs with what’s left in your bank account at the end of the month, there is hope. Halloween doesn’t have to break the bank, especially when it comes to costumes—frequently one of the most expensive parts of celebrating.

Instead of heading out to your local party store to drop a ton of cash on a costume that will just end up in the trash, you could get in touch with your inner DIY-er and plan out a costume you can make by reusing things you already own or picking up a few things from a dollar store.

These cheap costume ideas will ensure you’re the best dressed and the most financially savvy.

Weddings are a rite of passage, but as any future bride and groom know, paying for them is a major headache. From the venue to the dress, wedding costs can be exorbitant, especially for couples dealing with other financial priorities.

Wedding flowers can be a pricey part of the big day, making up about 10% of a typical wedding budget . But what’s a wedding without a bouquet to toss?

Fortunately, there are ways to save on your wedding flowers without giving up your dream. Learn how you can find wedding flowers that fit both your budget and your vision board.

When it comes to your career development, it pays to take matters into your own hands. If you’re waiting for a manager or mentor to tell you exactly what you need to do in order to grow your skill set or get promoted, you could be waiting forever.

If you are thinking of getting a new job, changing industries, or have bigger ambitions than your current role, your boss may not even be that interested in helping you. No one knows you better than you know yourself.

Career development means more than just taking a class or going to a networking event—it’s thinking two (or more!) steps ahead for where you want to go and grow in your career, and what you need to learn or experience to get there.

Whether focused on your personal or career goals, it’s clear that you’re thinking ahead to the new year. But some will say you can’t move forward successfully without first looking back and understanding where you are today. Goal-setting usually works best in tandem with self-assessment.

To help make this year the year you step up professionally and work toward a more productive, profitable, and fulfilled career, don’t start with resolutions; start with reflection:

Sometimes, money matters can feel frustrating as a millennial. Learning something new can make you scratch your head, wondering where to start. Investing is no exception.

One advantage millennials have is the ability to learn from previous generations. Additionally, there is one arena where millennials may have it better than previous generations, and that’s the arena of investing.

Currently, there are many accessible, transparent options for investing that are both low-cost and don’t require a huge amount of money to get started.

If you’re wondering “how do I learn to invest my money?”, you could start by taking a peek into history to learn what was different, what was the same, and what you can do better.

Here are four things that millennials can learn about investing from previous generations.